Swedish sociologist and politician
Alva Myrdal
|
---|
Myrdal in 1968
|
Born
| Alva Reimer
(
1902-01-31
)
31 January 1902
|
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Died
| 1 February 1986
(1986-02-01)
(aged 84)
|
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Nationality
| Swedish
[1]
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Occupation(s)
| Politician, sociologist, diplomat
|
---|
Spouse
|
|
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Children
| 3, including
Jan Myrdal
and
Sissela Bok
|
---|
Relatives
| Hilary Bok
(granddaughter),
Stefan Folster
(grandson)
|
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Alva Myrdal
(
MUR
-dahl,
MEER
-
,
Swedish:
[??lːva
?my?ː??ːl]
; nee
Reimer
; 31 January 1902 ? 1 February 1986) was a Swedish
sociologist
, diplomat and politician. She was a prominent leader of the
disarmament
movement. She, along with
Alfonso Garcia Robles
, received the
Nobel Peace Prize
in 1982. She married
Gunnar Myrdal
in 1924; he received the
Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences
in 1974, making them the
sixth ever married couple
to have won Nobel Prizes, and the first to win independent of each other (versus a shared Nobel Prize by scientist spouses).
Biography
[
edit
]
Early life and studies
[
edit
]
Alva Myrdal was born in
Uppsala
and grew up as the first child of a modest family, the daughter of Albert Reimer (1876?1943) and Lowa Jonsson (1877?1943). She had four siblings: Ruth (1904?1980), Folke (1906?1977), May (1909?1941) and Stig (1912?1977). Her father was a socialist and modern liberal. During her childhood the family moved around to different places. For example, they were residents of Eskilstuna, Alvsjo, and Stockholm. Her academic studies involved psychology and family sociology. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Stockholm in 1924.
In 1929, Myrdal and her husband
Gunnar Myrdal
had the opportunity to travel to the US as Rockefeller Fellows. Myrdal further deepened her studies in the fields of psychology, education and sociology whilst in the US. She had the special chance to broaden her knowledge of children's education. Myrdal's observation of the great social and economic disparities in the United States also led to an increased political commitment ? "radical" was the term that she and her husband came to use to describe their shared political outlook They then moved to Geneva for further studies, where they started to so study the population decline that worried many Europeans during the interwar period.
Politics of the family and population issue
[
edit
]
Myrdal first came to public attention in the 1930s, and was one of the main driving forces in the creation of the Swedish
welfare state
. She coauthored the book
Crisis in the Population Question
(
Swedish
:
Kris i befolkningsfragan
with Gunnar Myrdal in 1934). The basic premise of
Crisis in the Population Question
is to find what social reforms are needed to allow for individual liberty (especially for women) while also promoting child-bearing, and encouraging Swedes to have children. The book also detailed the importance of shared responsibility for children's education both between the parents as well as the community by trained child educators.
Myrdal was highly critical of developments in the operation of preschools for children in Sweden. Consequently, she published the book
Urban Children
(1935), where she presented her ideas for a newly reformed Swedish preschool system. She argued that contemporary child care was flawed. The system was
polarized
between two extremes ? measures of 'poor relief' for the less well-off contrasted with those measures which prepared children from wealthier families for private schools. She stressed that there were material obstacles in the way of being able to access a good education. Therefore, social and economic reforms were needed. Myrdal wanted to combine and integrate the two extremes.
A year later, she was able to put her theory into practice, as she became director of the National Educational Seminar, which she cofounded in 1936. She personally worked there as a teacher and
pedagogue
by training preschool teachers. Myrdal emphasized the lack of recent educational research in regards to preschool teacher training. Her teaching tried to integrate the new discoveries in child psychology in education. Social studies were also emphasized, as was women's personal development.
With architect
Sven Markelius
, Myrdal designed Stockholm's cooperative
Collective House
in 1937, with an eye towards developing more domestic liberty for women. She was a member of the
Committee for Increased Women's Representation
, founded in 1937 to increase women's political representation.
[2]
In 1938, Alva and Gunnar Myrdal moved to the United States. While in the US, Myrdal published the book
Nation and Family
(1941) concerning the Swedish family unit and population policy. During World War II, she also periodically lived in Sweden.
Postwar career takeoff
[
edit
]
A long-time prominent member of the
Swedish Social Democratic Party
, in the late 1940s she became involved in international issues with the United Nations, appointed to head its section on welfare policy in 1949. From 1950 to 1955 she was chairman of
UNESCO
's social science section?the first woman to hold such prominent positions in the UN. In 1955?1956, she served as a Swedish envoy to New Delhi, India,
Yangon
, Myanmar and
Colombo
, Sri Lanka.
[3]
From 1951 she had collaborated with British-based sociologist
Viola Klein
and in 1958 they co-wrote the book
Women's Two Roles: Home and Work
, supported by the International Federation of University Women "to make an international survey of the needs for social reforms if women are to be put into a position to reconcile family and professional life".
[4]
In 1962, Myrdal was elected to the
Riksdag
, and in 1962 she was sent as the Swedish delegate to the
UN disarmament conference
in
Geneva
, a role she kept until 1973. During the negotiations in Geneva, she played an extremely active role, emerging as the leader of the group of
nonaligned
nations which endeavored to bring pressure to bear on the two superpowers (US and USSR, respectively) to show greater concern for concrete
disarmament
measures. Her experiences from the years spent in Geneva found an outlet in her book "The game of disarmament", in which she expresses her disappointment at the reluctance of the US and the
USSR
to disarm.
[5]
Myrdal participated in the creation of the
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
, becoming the first chairman of the governing board in 1966. In 1967 she was also named consultative Cabinet minister for disarmament, an office she held until 1973. Myrdal also wrote the acclaimed book
The Game of Disarmament,
originally published in 1976. A vocal supporter of disarmament, Myrdal received the
Nobel Peace Prize
in 1982 together with
Alfonso Garcia Robles
. In 1983 Myrdal effectively ended the heated controversy over the future of
Adolf Fredrik's Music School
, "The AF-fight" (Swedish: AF-striden).
[6]
Myrdal promoted reforms in child care and later became a government commission on women's work and chair of the Federation of Business and Professional Women.
[7]
Personal life
[
edit
]
In 1924, she married Professor
Gunnar Myrdal
. Together they had children
Jan Myrdal
(born 1927),
Sissela Bok
(born 1934) and Kaj Folster (born 1936).
[8]
Her grandchildren include
Hilary Bok
and
Stefan Folster
.
Death
[
edit
]
She died the day after her 84th birthday.
Awards and honours
[
edit
]
Honorary degrees
[
edit
]
Memberships
[
edit
]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"The Nobel Peace Prize 1982"
.
- ^
Ronnback, Josefin, '"Utan kvinnor inget folkstyre": en historisk expose over kampen for okad kvinnorepresentation i Sverige', Tidskrift for genusvetenskap., 2010:3, s. 61-89, 2010
- ^
"Biografie Alva Myrdal"
.
50 Klassiker der Soziologie, Universitat Graz
. Archived from
the original
on 7 May 2019
. Retrieved
22 November
2013
.
- ^
p. IX.
- ^
"Nobel Prize Biographical ? Alva Myrdal"
.
- ^
Lutteman, Elisabeth (2006).
Musikklass ? ett pedagogiskt spanningsfalt
(PDF)
(B.A.) (in Swedish).
Lulea University of Technology
. pp. 7?8.
ISSN
1402-1773
. Retrieved
14 December
2014
.
- ^
Myrdal, Alva. (2016). In Helicon (Ed.),
The Hutchinson unabridged encyclopedia with atlas and weather guide
. Abington, UK: Helicon. Retrieved from
http://cordproxy.mnpals.net/login?url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/heliconhe/myrdal_alva/0?institutionId=4015
- ^
Harnesk, Paul, ed. (1962).
Vem ar vem? 1, Stor-Stockholm
[
Who's Who? 1, Greater Stockholm
] (in Swedish) (2nd ed.). Stockholm: Vem ar vem. p. 935.
SELIBR
53509
.
- ^
a
b
c
"Alva Reimer Myrdal"
.
Encyclopædia Britannica
. Retrieved
23 September
2020
.
- ^
a
b
c
Price Davis, Anita; Selvidge, Marla J. (2016).
Women Nobel Peace Prize Winners
(2nd ed.). Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 133.
ISBN
9780786499175
.
- ^
"Samtliga pristagare av KTH:s stora pris"
(in Swedish).
KTH Royal Institute of Technology
. Archived from
the original
on 21 October 2020
. Retrieved
23 September
2020
.
- ^
"The Nobel Peace Prize 1982"
.
Nobel Foundation
.
Archived
from the original on 12 October 2008
. Retrieved
12 November
2008
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
Vem ar det: svensk biografisk handbok. 1985
[
Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 1985
] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedt. 1984. p. 785.
ISBN
91-1-843222-0
.
SELIBR
3681527
.
- ^
"Honorary Graduates 1904?2019"
.
University of Leeds
. p. 8
. Retrieved
23 September
2020
.
- ^
"Past Honorary Degree Recipients"
.
Temple University
. Retrieved
23 September
2020
.
- ^
"Myrdal, Gunnar. Selected Works by Gunnar Myrdal, 1965-1972. CAMC Collection 97. 1 Hollinger box"
.
Gustavus Adolphus College
. 14 May 2020
. Retrieved
23 September
2020
.
- ^
"HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENTS"
.
Brandeis University
. Retrieved
23 September
2020
.
- ^
Olsson, Claes-Olof (2007).
Hedersdoktorer vid Goteborgs universitet under 100 ar: 1907-2007
(PDF)
(in Swedish). Gothenburg: Goteborgs universitet. p. 72.
ISBN
9789173603546
.
SELIBR
10624901
.
- ^
"APS Member History"
.
search.amphilsoc.org
.
American Philosophical Society
. Retrieved
6 June
2022
.
Further reading
[
edit
]
- Bok, Sissela
(1987).
Alva: ett kvinnoliv
(in Swedish). Stockholm: Bonnier.
ISBN
9100474223
.
SELIBR
7147538
.
- Bok, Sissela
(1988).
Alva: ett kvinnoliv
. Bonnier pocket, 99-0307595-2 (in Swedish) (New ed.). Stockholm: Bonnier.
ISBN
9100474843
.
SELIBR
7147582
.
- Bok, Sissela
(1991).
Alva Myrdal: a daughter's memoir
. A
Merloyd Lawrence Books
/Radcliffe biography series. Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley.
ISBN
0-201-57086-6
.
SELIBR
4705292
.
- Etzemuller, Thomas (2014).
Alva and Gunnar Myrdal: social engineering in the modern world
. Translated by Skinner, Alex. Lanham: Lexington Books.
ISBN
9780739188743
.
SELIBR
19433840
.
- Groning, Lotta (2006).
Kvinnans plats: min bok om Alva Myrdal
(in Swedish). Stockholm: Bonnier.
ISBN
9100111341
.
SELIBR
10136283
.
- Hederberg, Hans (2004).
Sanningen, inget annat an sanningen: sex decennier ur Alva & Gunnar Myrdals liv
(in Swedish). Stockholm: Atlantis.
ISBN
9173530026
.
SELIBR
9471839
.
- Hirdman, Yvonne
(2006).
Det tankande hjartat: boken om Alva Myrdal
(in Swedish). Stockholm: Ordfront.
ISBN
9170372667
.
SELIBR
10141468
.
- Hirdman, Yvonne
(2008).
Alva Myrdal: the passionate mind
. Bloomington IN: Indiana University Press.
ISBN
9780253351326
.
SELIBR
10703302
.
- Lindholm, Margareta (1992).
Elin Wagner och Alva Myrdal: en dialog om kvinnorna och samhallet
(in Swedish) (1st ed.). Gothenburg: Anamma.
ISBN
9187894017
.
SELIBR
8381198
.
- Lindskog, Lars G.; Myrdal, Alva (1981).
Alva Myrdal: "Fornuftet maste segra!"
(in Swedish). Stockholm: Sveriges radio.
ISBN
915221608X
.
SELIBR
7409602
.
- Lindskog, Lars G.; Myrdal, Alva (1986).
Alva Myrdal: "Fornuftet maste segra!"
(in Swedish) (2nd ed.). Stockholm: Sveriges radio.
ISBN
9152216535
.
SELIBR
7409624
.
- Mral, Brigitte (1994).
"Den nya kvinnan": Alva Myrdal och medierna pa 30-talet
. Arbetarrorelsen och spraket, 99-1326861-3; 1994:3 (in Swedish). Uppsala: Univ. Litteraturvetenskapliga institutionen. Avd. for retorik.
ISBN
9188300331
.
SELIBR
7770477
.
- Myrdal, Alva; Buttimer, Anne (1984).
Alva Myrdal: former Swedish Cabinet minister, ambassador, and member of Parliament
. Transcript series / Dialogue Project, 99-0834765-9; C 3. Lund: Dialogue project.
SELIBR
2179900
.
- Nilsson, Jan Olof (1994).
Alva Myrdal: en virvel i den moderna strommen
. Kulturhistoriskt/Kulturvetenskapligt bibliotek (in Swedish). Stockholm: B. Ostlings bokforl. Symposion.
ISBN
9171392165
.
SELIBR
7607522
.
- Terling, Barbro (1987).
Alva Myrdal: kommenterad bibliografi : 1932?1961
[
Alva Myrdal : an annotated bibliography : 1932?1961
] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Alva och Gunnar Myrdals stift.
ISBN
9187396092
.
SELIBR
7764484
.
- Vinterhed, Kerstin (2003).
Karlek i tjugonde seklet: en biografi over Alva och Gunnar Myrdal
(in Swedish). Stockholm: Atlas.
ISBN
9173891061
.
SELIBR
8888148
.
External links
[
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]
Diplomatic posts
|
Preceded by
|
Ambassador of Sweden to India
1955?1961
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Succeeded by
|
Preceded by
None
|
Ambassador of Sweden to Burma
1955?1959
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Succeeded by
|
Preceded by
None
|
Ambassador of Sweden to Nepal
1960?1961
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Succeeded by
?
|
Preceded by
|
Ambassador of Sweden to Sri Lanka
1960?1961
|
Succeeded by
|
Alva Myrdal
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1901?1925
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1926?1950
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1951?1975
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1976?2000
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2001?present
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International
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National
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Academics
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Artists
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People
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Other
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